Antique Moro Barong Barung Phillipine Sword, Knife, Maker's Mark For Sale

This is a traditional Moro Barong (also spelled barung), a distinctive leaf-shaped short sword native to the Moro people of the southern Philippines (primarily the Sulu Archipelago and Mindanao).Key Characteristics of the Weapon

• The Blade: It features a thick, heavy, single-edged, leaf-shaped blade. This design shifts the center of gravity forward, making it an incredibly efficient slicing and hacking weapon historically used both in warfare and for utilitarian tasks.
• The Hilt (Punguran): The handle is crafted from polished hardwood and terminates in a stylized pommel known as a kakatua, which represents a cockatoo bird. The grip is reinforced with a long brass collar (bakat) to prevent the wood from splitting along the blade's tang.
• The Scabbard (Taguban): The weapon comes with a matching two-piece hardwood scabbard featuring wide, decoratively carved accents near the throat and tip.

The blade prominently bears a chiseled stamp reading "J-B", which is a Western maker's mark or collection stamp. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries (particularly around the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars), Moro blades were highly sought-after trophies by Western soldiers. Stamped initials like this often indicate trade steel components, or they were added by colonial collectors, veterans, or outfitters to catalogue pieces brought back to Europe or North America.THE TOTAL LENGTH IS 23 1/2" BLADE IS 14 3/4" LONG